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"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13). But we have a hope, a living hope! "For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep" (1 Thessalonians 4:14,15). "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade -- kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5).

For those who believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ what an aspiring perspective hope brings to any earthbound disaster or personal loss. What a tremendous spiritual blessing it is to having a living hope! A simple definition of hope is an emotional state, the opposite of despair, that promotes the belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one’s life. But Biblical hope is grounded in the absolute certainty of God's care, not just a wishful thought for a positive outcome that may or may not come true.

Sadly, there are scores and scores of people who live day after day without a Biblically grounded hope. These are the kind of people that Paul spoke of in his letter to the Thessalonian believers who "grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope". But for those who have faith in Christ, upon the death of a loved one, we are not to grieve as one who has no hope. Like the Thessalonian believers, because of Christ, we too have a living hope.

But at times, even for the believer, hopelessness and despair can steer our emotions to a place we should not enter. It happens when we take our focus off the Lord and His promises. The great hymn writer Isaac Watts provides an interesting description, "Despair tells us that difficulty is insurmountable".

Living hope for the follower of Christ is a result of God’s great mercy and the new birth He has given us, grounded in the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The apostle Peter wrote these words to encourage believers undergoing various trials and persecutions. Some thirty years after Christ’s resurrection the church entered a time of horrific persecution during Nero’s reign. It was shortly after this that Peter was martyred for his faith.

All who trust in Christ have this living hope. As we live out our lives we have many of the same problems as those who do not have a Christian worldview. But our perspective differs based on an empty tomb and the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Our hope is alive and our eternal future awaits us, no matter the present circumstances. Billy Graham characteristically stated it so simply, "As a Christian I have hope not just for this life but for Heaven and the life to come".

Today we need to hold fast to our living hope. Never lose sight of it. Be assured, God will hold us fast. The writer of Hebrews spoke of this hope as "an anchor for the soul, firm and secure" (Hebrews 6:19). As God’s children we have a living hope and an assurance that God will see us through. I encourage you this day to keep the presence of our living hope ever before you! In doing so, I feel certain that you will be encouraged in your circumstance and more importantly strengthened in your faith!

Be encouraged today! Hebrews 3:13